A Comparative Study of Autogenic Training and Progressive Relaxation as Methods for Teaching Clients to Relax

Autogenic Training (AT) is a therapeutic procedure developed by the Berlin nerve specialist J.H.Schultz (1) on the basis of experiences with hypnosis. It is actually a form of self-hypnosis which utilizes a series of imagery-based exercises to produce mental and physical relaxation. There are six components of the basic standard autogenic exercises These steps involve the production of feelings of heaviness and warmth in the extremities, the regulation of cardiac and respiratory activity, and the production of abdominal warmth and cooling of the forehead. In addition, the autogenic formula includes a suggestion about mental calmness at each step of the exercise. Throughout the exercise, the client is encouraged to adopt an attitude of passive concentration, that is, to simply let the therapist s suggestions take hold without actively trying to make them occur. Another form of relaxation exercise is Progressive Relaxation (PR), developed by E. Jacobson (2) on the basis of his scientific study of rest, as a physiological method of quieting the nervous system, including the mind itself. The client is trained to relax the skeletal muscles by focusing on one muscle group at a time, and systematically tensing and relaxing these muscles while paying close attention to the difference between tension and relaxation. Although both AT and PR are designed to reduce stress and anxiety, little research has been done to demonstrate the comparative value of each method in producing relaxation in clients. Many behavior therapies in English-speaking countries such as the United States use the method of PR to generate relaxation as the antianxiety response in the procedure of Systematic Desensitization (SD), according to Wolpes (3) shortened method. At the same time, many other therapists have preferred to use AT Schultz (1), and in Japan the reason for this may be because AT had already been in vogue among Japanese psychotherapists before the introduction of SD and the behavior therapies. Except for the work by Kondas (4) in Czechoslovakia, there have been few reports of the use of AT with SD in countries other than Japane.g.,Takaishi, (5). In Japan, therapists use both AT and PR, without any particular rationale for A Comparative Study of Autogenic Training and Progressive Relaxation as Methods for Teaching Clients to Relax